How many of you are writers?

[RJPineiro]

Hi Wade,

I've written fiction for almost two decades and have 14 novels published under the name R.J. Pineiro. My latest book is MELTDOWN. More information on my work is available at my website or at Amazon.

Best wishes,

--R.J.

[awash1]

I'm a writer and recently published my first post-apocalyptic thriller. My website is amandawashington dot net.

[Journey]

I am a writer in my head. Most of what I put down on paper would never get anywhere. I hope that someday I am able to put it all together. Having something published would be amazing.

[Syrcco44]

I am a writer. I am not published, though. I do not believe that the title of a writer is earned by getting published. I write stories/books, poetry, short stories and some songs. I've participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) for two years and will keep doing it. I have completed the first drafts of four books and am in the process of editing while simultaneously writing and working on other books. Eventually, I do hope to publish, but not anytime in the near future. I love writing. I shall never leave it.

[prabax]

am a common writer,it means am going to write my good old days by rite now.

[aledrain]

I'm a aspiring author, really doubt I'll get there on day though. But yeah, writing is fun for me.

[Lynda Coker]

I am a published author of Contemporary Romance and am currently working on a Young Adult Sci-Fi. As much as I love to write, I also love to read. So dividing my time between both loves is hard to do with any kind of balance. To feed my book addiction, I have an active book blog where I review books in a wide range of genres. This year I've started a Reading Challenge for 2010 which is keeping me very busy, as well.
Lynda - Between The Pages Blog

[ResearchScholar]

I have had 3 books of non-fiction published, and have now decided to pursue this interest on a more-or-less fulltime basis. My main motivation is to challenge myself and my intellect.

[Rancher]

I am a published author.

I have two books under my belt with another to be released June 18th. I have another in at the publisher and twenty-seven in different stages of being completed here at home.

Oh and incase I didn't say........I LOVE WRITING!!!!

[TIGERSPRITE]

I've written one fantasy book. Trying to find agent.

[C0ldf1re]

Just an inspired guess, but I think that anybody who has written a long (say 4 paragraphs) and thoughtful post on this forum has it in them to write a book, and has considered it.

The first step to being an author must be motivation. You must love stories. So you will already be reading other people's stories.

Perhaps the second step is when you think another person's story is inadequate. I have just read a novel by the best-selling Jeffrey Archer, only to think, "I could have written that... and better, too!"

(Hmmm... where's my 4th paragraph?)

[Carla Hurst]

Yes...me too...

Have written short stories...working on a memoir/manuscript...written a children's story...and have several articles/essays published.

Love writing.

Carla

[ResearchScholar]

There are many people who love writing and who also write beautifully. However, these attributes may not necessarily mean they can write book-length manuscripts.

What is the percentage of people who start on a book project and who then never finish? I would think it must be extremely high. The problem is that we would never know the statistics because how many would ever admit to abandoning a manuscript after just a few paragraphs or a few pages?

So, it is insufficient to have merely determination to be a writer. What is needed is grim determination. Those driven by the latter will finish what they've started and then have the luxury of editing down their work. That would be the ideal situation, even if it is an embarrassment of riches...

[Carla Hurst]

There are many people who love writing and who also write beautifully. However, these attributes may not necessarily mean they can write book-length manuscripts.

What is the percentage of people who start on a book project and who then never finish? I would think it must be extremely high. The problem is that we would never know the statistics because how many would ever admit to abandoning a manuscript after just a few paragraphs or a few pages?

So, it is insufficient to have merely determination to be a writer. What is needed is grim determination. Those driven by the latter will finish what they've started and then have the luxury of editing down their work. That would be the ideal situation, even if it is an embarrassment of riches...

C


Completely agree. Have been working on my manuscript for almost 5 years now...and editing...and editing...and soon the rewrite. Books are labours of love...and determination.

[ResearchScholar]

Completely agree. Have been working on my manuscript for almost 5 years now...and editing...and editing...and soon the rewrite. Books are labours of love...and determination.

Congrats! I hope all goes well in this homestretch to completion.

Hope that just before your refined manuscript materializes you will mention it here so that we can have a discussion on the best ways to have it widely distributed, widely read. This would benefit other authors and prospective authors.